Chancellor Rachel Reeves overlooks Manchester Airport’s second runway in her speeches about Heathrow’s expansion plans
Manchester: Rachel Reeves recently spoke about expanding Heathrow Airport. She announced support for a new third runway. This proposal has been controversial for years.
In her speech, she mentioned new road and rail links between Oxford and Cambridge. She also supported Manchester United’s redevelopment plans for Old Trafford, but details were unclear.
However, she made a significant mistake. She claimed no new full-length runway has been built in Britain since the 1940s. But Manchester’s second runway opened in 2001.
That second runway cost £172 million and faced protests over environmental concerns. After six months of protests, it finally opened on February 5, 2001. It remains the only full-length runway outside London.
Despite this, Reeves repeated her claim on BBC Radio 4. She argued that Heathrow could lose its hub status without expansion. In another interview, she emphasized Heathrow’s importance for freight and long-haul flights.
Reeves stated, “We haven’t built a new runway in Britain since the 1940s.” She believes investments are necessary for the UK to remain globally connected.
Manchester Airport is the UK’s third busiest airport, serving as a hub for several airlines. Heathrow claims to be the only hub airport in the UK.
The Manchester Evening News has asked the Treasury for clarification on Reeves’ comments.
